Chapter 404: You Better Return

Igma;My vision blurs as I shove every and anything my mind manages to whisper that I may need into my bag.

I could wait. I could plan. It’s the logical thing to do, but I do not have the luxury of time for that right now.

I tried to deny it. I acted strong and kept telling myself that I was just letting my worry get the better of me.

But that wasn’t it. I could feel it in my heart. How weak Alana was getting. From cries to whispers, now to this faint pull against our bond.

She’s dying. And what Bram said was all I needed to snap out of my delusions and get moving.

At least now, I know where she is.

I can’t stop the worry and guilt slowly drowning me.

How much have they taken from her already? How much time does she have left?

How much longer before the bond between us finally snaps for good?

I stop when I realise that I’ve been shoving clothes into my bag, and I let out a breath before yanking them back out. I don’t need this many clothes.

I need weapons. Medicine. Water... and maybe food. Anything that will help me get to her faster.

Our bond aches again, and I freeze.

Closing my eyes, I focus on it. Past the chatter of voices outside. Past the chirping birds, past the children’s laughter and the warmth and safety of this kingdom... I focus solely on my mate’s whisper, and then I find her.

She’s weak. So weak... But still there. Still waiting on me.

"I’m coming..." I whisper, even though I’m not sure she can hear me.

I don’t even know if she can feel me. I hope she can. I hope she knows that across the borders, across the distance...I’m coming. I’m trying. I am...

The curtain at the door ruffles as it’s pushed aside, and I pause. Only one person has the guts to barge into my space without even knocking.

I turn around and find Aunt Liandria. Her silver eyes take in the mess on my bed, the bag in my hands, and the boot on my feet. Then she lets out a breath and looks back up at me.

"So, you’re just going to leave?" She asks, and I pause.

I do not have answers for her. Especially not answers she already knows.

So, instead of answering her, I let go of my bag and head towards the trunk in the corner of the room.

I pull it open and stare at the weapons I had sent to me from home.

I pick out daggers and knives, and I hear my aunt close in behind me.

She may not be my mother, but she raised me. She raised me long enough to be able to sense her without even seeing her.

She may be light on her feet, but I can already tell she’s standing right behind me.

I feel her hand on my shoulder, and I go still.

Her grip isn’t crude or hard. Instead, it’s gentle. Soft in a way that feels out of place for her.

"Igma, she needs you." She whispers, and I raise a brow.

I turn around to look at her.

"That’s why I’m going." I point out, and she shakes her head in negation.

"She needs you alive. If you go like this, you’ll get yourself killed. Of what use will you be to her then–?" She begins, but I shake her hand off my shoulder and stand up.

"I’m not a weakling." I remind her, and she pauses.

She opens her mouth to say something, but stops.

I swerve past her and return to my bag. She remains silent, but I can feel her eyes on me.

"I have trained our kingdom’s soldiers for years. When you and Rhydian were leaving Howleroot, King Wilhelm left the entire kingdom in my care. If I was incompetent, he wouldn’t have. Plus, you yourself trained me for years. Are you now doubting your teachings?" I rant as I shove the weapons into my bag, and she sighs.

"No, I’m not." She replies immediately, and I look up at her.

"I am very confident in the soldier I raised and the woman you’ve become. But you are about to prance into the territory of witches and warlocks. You’re relying on weapons when all they need to put an end to you is a snap of their fingers. Have you even thought this through??" She adds, and my brows pull together, because of the tinge of worry I hear in her voice.

Actual worry.

She’s worried about me?? How? Why?? Since when??

If anything happens to me, it affects none of her interests. Why then is she here... showing emotion?

She’s been weird since I arrived. The normal Alpha Liandria would order me not to go, and her reasons would be nothing but selfish. However, this—this feels different.

"You’re going to get yourself killed, Igma—"

"Why do you care??" The question slips out before I can stop it, and she freezes.

Almost like the question was a smack across her face.

I watch her call back her emotions and settle into a calmer stance and expression as the previous tension escapes her shoulders. She huffs out a breath, and seriousness soaks into her face as she holds my gaze.

"Because you’re my niece. My brother’s child. His only child. I owe it to him to keep you safe." She replies, and I blink at her.

Stunned.

Since when did she start realising that she owes my father things?? She owes him a whole fucking lot, but now, is when she’s starting to realise that??

I turn away from her, as impatience, anger, and irritation mangle into something hot and ugly in my chest.

"You can never pay back the thing you owe him, so don’t act as if you can—as if this—whatever this is, means anything," I reply coldly, and her eyes widen a fraction as what seems like hurt floods them.

I scoff before looking away from her and stuffing the bag further.

"You’re right." She says after a moment, and I roll my eyes.

I walk to a corner of the room and grab a pouch of water that one of the villagers gifted me a while back.

"I can not pay him back the things I owe him. But you’re still my niece. I can’t watch you throw yourself to the wolves." She says softly, and I groan in frustration, as I’m trying to think, and I don’t need her yapping in my ears.

"I understand why you’re upset." She then adds, and I turn to eye her.

"I’m not upset." I snap, and that earns me a look. A long one. The kind adults give children when they know they’re lying.

Unfortunately for her, though, I’m not lying.

Being upset would be easier. Being upset... eventually passes.

This isn’t that. This is fear... dread. This is knowing that the person you love is suffering while you’re standing miles away, being asked to do nothing.

"Igma..." She calls as I pull the bag shut.

"We need a plan," she whispers, and my grip on the bag’s strap tightens.

"I don’t have time for that."

"Then we send scouts."

"That’s still wasting time!"

"We need information."

"We have information!" I snap again, and she raises her brows.

"Bram!?" She demands, now like she’s equally losing her patience, and I nod.

"Yes. He finally confessed where she’s being held." I reply, and she pinches the bridge of her nose like I’m some exhausting fool.

"Igma, Bram is a liar." She points out, and I nod.

"Yes. but not now. I know he didn’t lie. Rhydian forced the truth out of him. When he told us, he didn’t look like a person crafting a lie. He looked like a person trying not to die." I explain, and I see worry coat her face in yet another shade.

"He could still be playing games."

"I don’t care! If Alana is there, then I’m going. Game, or not." I respond, and Aunt Liandria falls silent.

For months, Alana’s pull had felt directionless. Now it doesn’t. Now there is a destination. One, I am so painfully sure of, and there is nothing. Nothing that will keep me from going to her, now!

Aunt Liandria notices the conviction immediately, and her expression softens.

Now, she looks sad. She finally understands there’s no stopping me. She just doesn’t agree.

Before she can speak again, another voice joins us.

"She’s right."

We both turn and find Queen Cassia in the doorway.

Her arms are folded behind her, and unlike Aunt Liandria, she doesn’t look sad. She looks annoyed.

"Thank you," I mutter, and she raises a brow at me.

"I wasn’t talking about you, child." She replies, and my hope dies instantly.

She walks inside and stands just a few feet away from me.

Her chubby, curvy frame hovers above me. And somehow... instead of feeling intimidated, there’s so much warmth from her.

The warmth of a mother about to scold her child, instead of a bully trying to silence a target.

"Igma, this is foolish." She says outrightly, and I shut my eyes.

Not her too!!

"Queen Cassia, please don’t—"

"You don’t even know what you’re walking into." She cuts me off, and I look back up at her.

"I don’t care," I say pointedly, and she lets out a breath.

"That’s the problem. You should care." She replies, and I stare at her—at both women—in bewilderment.

Do they not understand what’s at stake?? Do they even understand what the fuck they’re asking me to do??

"My mate is dying!" I scream at both of them, and Queen Cassia lets out a breath.

"That’s exactly why you shouldn’t be making decisions alone." She replies with a calmness that irks me.

Then she sighs.

"I understand—" She begins, but I’ve had enough.

"No. You don’t."

"I do."

"You do not!" I snap, and her expression hardens as her golden eyes narrow.

For a second, I regret my tone of voice. But then the fear returns and swallows the guilt.

Because Alana is still out there. Alana is still suffering. Alana is still calling for me.

And every minute spent arguing feels like another minute stolen from her.

I shoulder my bag and stare at both women.

"I’m leaving," I announce, and Aunt Liandria marches over to stand beside Queen Cassia.

What? Now, they’re going to trap me here??

How did they even find out I planned to leave— Rhydian!!

"At least wait for us to arrange a party to go with you." Aunt Liandria says, and I sigh in exasperation.

I don’t have time for this.

"Do you not understand that I’m running out of time??"

"You need support." Queen Cassia then says, and I look at her.

A beautiful, elderly woman who’s just a few years older than my aunt.

"I don’t need support," I whisper, and she raises a brow.

The lie tastes bitter. Because I do. I do need all the fucking help I can get, but I just don’t want to wait for it.

I can’t.

I step around them, and the moment Queen Cassia tries to speak, Aunt Liandria grabs her wrist.

Good. They should understand there’s no point in trying to stop me.

The moment I get close to the door, another figure appears.

Rhydian.

I frown in annoyance, but he looks past me.

His eyes move from me to Queen Cassia and then to his mother.

I watch the realisation click in his eyes, and he returns his gaze to me with a small sigh.

"I’m coming with you." He says, and I’m taken aback.

"No, you’re not!" I reply instantly, and he scoffs.

Just then, he turns his side and lets me see the bag he’s strapped to his back.

"I knew they wouldn’t be able to get through to you. And there’s no way I packed my bag in vain, so... Let’s get moving, Cuso." He replies, and I blink at him in awe.

I narrow my eyes, but he doesn’t budge.

The stubborn bastard.

"You aren’t coming."

"I am."

"You’ll slow me down," I add, and a faint snort escapes him.

"You have shorter legs, young woman." He jokes, and I squint at him in annoyance.

His smile soon melts away, and the way he calls my name makes me freeze.

"Igma—"

I’ve known Rhydian since we were wolf pups. I’ve seen him angry, happy, embarrassed, stupid, and proud...But this? This sounds different.

"I owe you an apology." He says softly, and I blink at him.

Rhydian and apologies aren’t exactly close friends. So why is he...

He notices my expression and grimaces.

"Yeah. I know." He huffs, not daring to look at anyone else but me.

Rhydian drags a hand through his hair. Then exhales.

"I should’ve listened." He says quietly, and finally, I understand where this is headed.

"Igma—"

"You don’t have to." I cut him off, but he steps forward.

"Yes, I do. I should’ve listened. To you... to Elián..." The guilt in his voice is heavy and raw.

"I should’ve listened to my wolf." He adds, and I look away from him.

"My point is, you have always been there for me since we were kids." He continues, and the memory hits before I can stop it. Childhood, training, arguments, laughter... All of it.

"You were there when I needed help. You were there when nobody else understood me." He adds, and a small smile splits my face as I stare at him.

"So let me be there for you now. I’ve failed you long enough. I helped create this mess. Gave Bram the room to burrow into our lives. So please, Igma. Give me the chance to fix things." He whispers, and that nearly breaks me.

Because it was sincere.

I look away first. Of course I do.

Someone has to preserve their dignity, and I’m not about to shed an emotional tear in front of all these eyes.

"...You’re an idiot," I mumble, and Rhydian laughs.

"Probably," he replies, as I look up at him.

His smile widens slightly. Then fades.

Because reality returns.

What we’re about to do...is dangerous. And foolish... but it can not wait.

I close my eyes. Then nod.

Rhydian immediately straightens. The relief on his face is embarrassing.

"Fine." I accept, and his eyes widen almost like he wasn’t expecting me to accept so easily.

"Fine?"

"Don’t make me repeat myself," I warn, and behind us, Queen Cassia exhales slowly, and when I turn around, Alpha Liandria looks away.

Neither tries to stop us. Perhaps they’ve finally realised they can’t. Or perhaps they understand what this means?

Either way, it’s time to leave.

*****

An hour later, Rhydian and I are standing at Gravemaw’s borders.

The evening’s air is cold. The journey ahead is long, dangerous... Possibly suicidal. But there’s no hesitation in my heart.

Because for the first time in months, I’m moving toward Alana instead of waiting for news about her.

I tighten my grip on my bag, and beside me, Rhydian adjusts the sword at his waist.

Neither of us speaks.

There is nothing to say.

I turn back and find Alpha Liandria beside Queen Cassia. She looks like she’s battling a thought, and then she sighs, like she’s giving in to something.

I watch as she marches over to me, and my aunts’ usually silver, hostile eyes are filled with so much worry... and fear.

Without a word, she pulls me into a hug, and I freeze.

She holds me for a few seconds and slowly steps away from me.

She walks over to Rhydian, and although he looks away from her, she pulls him into a hug nonetheless.

She shuts her eyes, and the words she whispers settle heavily into my chest.

"You both had better return to me. I’ll be right here waiting."